Shawn Ferger, distinguished alumnus from Erie 1 BOCES

Workforce Development training, holds his award.

Ferger, resident of the Town of Tonawanda, attended the Kenton Career & Technical Center in 2008 as a high school student, exploring various health-related programs Kenton has to offer. He later returned to Erie 1 BOCES as an adult student in the licensed practical nursing (LPN) program at BOCES' Potter location. In 2012, Ferger graduated from the Erie 1 BOCES LPN program and successfully passed his licensing exams.

“The one-on-one small classroom size at BOCES really helped me in the way I study,” said Ferger in regards to how Erie 1 BOCES’ programs helped him to find his career path and succeed in his studies.

Ferger began working for Dent Neurologic Institute as a full-time medical assistant in 2010, later receiving the “star employee award.” He credits Erie 1 BOCES with helping to spark his initial interest in the medical field.

“I would say that BOCES accelerated my career success because it gave me a good business knowledge on exactly what happens in healthcare from multiple perspectives,” Ferger said. He states that hearing from registered nurses and other professionals in the field while a student at the Kenton Career & Technical Center helped to encourage him to enter the medical field.

After graduating from the LPN program, Ferger was promoted from his position as a medical assistant at Dent Neurologic Institute to a full-time clinic LPN. In 2013, Ferger was promoted again, becoming the clinic manager of Dent’s headache and neuro-oncology clinics at 22 years old, making him the youngest manager since Dent was established in 1963. Ferger is now the LPN clinic manager of pediatric neurology at Dent Neurologic Institute.